Just Follow Your Agent’s Nose

An overlooked truth about the nature of being in human is that smells are often tied to pleasant, or unpleasant, memories. More to the point, smells elicit pleasant or unpleasant emotions. Moreover, smells can clue us in that problems are afoot (that smell from the fridge, the air coming out of our vents when the air conditioner is blowing, etc.,). In the era of COVID-19, many people are accepting that virtual tours are an acceptable proxy for visiting the houses themselves, this is ok as an initial visit but should not be your only viewing of a home before you write an offer. Thus, it is essential that you ask your agent to keep a nose out for worrisome odors. Here are some odors that could turn your dream home into a stinky nightmare. 
The most common complaints received after an in-person tour revolve around pet odors. Cleaning pet odors isn’t as simple as a deep clean. More importantly, the cost of removing that odor can be surprisingly expensive depending on the type of material on the floor and what was used when installing the floor itself. It may be simpler to demand the seller replace the flooring or ask for a credit to offset the cost of replacing it yourself. 
Believe it or not, some people still smoke inside in 2020. Tobacco is an insidious smell that finds its way into porous surfaces and stays there. Ceilings can be the odor’s hang out spot, since smoke rises until it is stopped; stopped by something like a ceiling, for example. If there is an odor of cigarette smoke, it’s going to cost money to have it professionally cleaned; making it a DIY project poses a myriad of potential issues down the road. If your agent smells cigarette odor in your potential new home, and it’s not a deal breaker, insist that the seller foots the bill on deep cleaning. 
Next, musty odors are indicative of mildew and mold; that’s a problem. To begin with, mold is a real health risk, and can cause serious problems for you and your family down the road. Moreover, mold suggests that there may be a leak somewhere in the house. If your agent smells mold or mildew, immediately call in a specialist to determine what type of remediation is needed. Also consider calling an expert to check the house for leaks, getting rid of mold does you no good if it will simply return in a few months.  
The bottom line is that your agent is your front-line eyes, ears, and nose; a skilled agent should use all of those senses while helping you find your dream home. Luckily, the agents at the Chernov Team know a thing or two about houses and are always on the lookout for things that indicate something costly is lurking beneath the surface. 
At the Chernov Team we understand that knowledge is power, and knowledge of how to identify issues that could potentially cost more than a car to fix is powerful knowledge indeed. At the Chernov Team we know that whoever comes to the table most prepared leaves with the most, and the Chernov Team always leaves the table with the most.